Race course game



H. EHRET RACE COURSE GAME Filed July 22, 1936 F/GJ.

May 31, 1938.

3 Sheets-Sheet l /A/l/E'NTOE. )2? a m May 31, 1938. H. EHRET RACE COURSEGAME Filed July 22, 1936 5 She ets-SheetYS Patented May 31, 1938 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE Application July 22,

3 Claims.

This invention relates to games of the race course variety, wherein anyone of a plurality of objects or puppets may arrive at, or be in closerproximity to, a stationary goal or finishing line, in advance of theremainder at the end of the game.

In general terms therefor, this device comprises a plurality of circulartracks or discs, adapted to be rotated about a stationary center post.The tracks are connected by spokes or braces, to collars which arecaused to revolve around ballbearing assemblies mounted on the centerpost.

Obviously the operative apparatus for a game of this nature must sofunction that it is impossible for the participants to predict inadvance which one of the racing puppets will be the winher.

Also, it is necessary to line up the racing objects in proper formationbefore the start of the race, and thereafter to maintain them in suchformation until each player selects the particular racing object whichin his opinion will win the race.

Further it is desirable that any one of the players may at a givensignal, by a simple operation, cause the apparatus to start and finishthe race.

The principal object of my invention therefore, is to provide a simple,inexpensive yet efficient device whereby the various ends may beattained.

Features of the invention are the simplicity of the novel mechanismemployed to line up the racing objects, to maintain them in racingformation until the start of the race, and the mechanism whereby any onemay set the game in motion.

Other objects and features not specifically mentioned above, will beapparent or pointed out in the following description, and in thedrawings forming part of this application.

In the drawings, which illustrate my invention as applied to a horserace game,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the device;

Fig. 2 is a similar View, taken at a level beneath the horses, tracks,etc. to better illustrate the mechanism therebelow;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken approximately on the line 33 of Fig.1;

Fig. 4 is a similar view taken approximately on the line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2, illustrating the position assumed bythe various components of the device prior to the start of a race;

Fig. 6 is an elevation of the tripping member 1936, Serial No. 92,138

and its associated parts, as viewed from the lower right hand portion ofFig. 5, looking toward the center post.

At numeral 1 is shown a wooden base, upon which is mounted as by screws,a rectangular metal plate 2.

Threaded into a hole 3, or otherwise secured to the plate 2, is avertical cylindrical post carrying near its lower extremity a bushing 5,which is in turn surrounded by the inner raceway member of a single rowballbearing assembly 5a of common design. A collar 6, is press fitted tothe outer raceway member of said ballbearing, is integral with alaterally extending arm 1. A roller 8, adapted to ride upon the uppersurface of base i, is mounted on said arm, which also carries anupwardly extending handle 9, for purposes to be described.

Likewise fixed to collar 6, is a second arm [I], secured to a more orless arcuate member ll, whose inner extremity is also fixed to saidcollar. Fastened to the member H, is a trip member l2, and a laterallyextending arm l3, for reasons to be explained.

An integral arm I4, extends upwardly from arm I, which also carries asuitable support or bracket for roller 8.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 3. A plurality of collars I8, withspacing members l9, therebetween, and above the uppermost of them,encompass and are each securely attached to the outer raceway member ofa double row ball bearing assembly mounted on center post 4. Set screws20, hold spacing collars H9, in place. Spokes or braces 28, welded tocollars l8, extend angularly and upwardly therefrom, being fixed to theunderside of circular tracks 22. Each track 22, is a concentric ring ofincreasing diameter, clearance between their peripheries being providedas shown.

Numerals 23, indicate for illustrative purposes only, (since dogs,automobiles, motorcycles etc. may be substituted), horses with jockeysthereon.

Obviously each horse or other object fixed to each track carries a markor numeral distinguishing it from the other entrants.

Secured as by screw 25, to the upper extremity of center post 4, is adisc24, whose outer periphery is slightly less than the inner peripheryof the innermost track. A plate or board 26, having a circular recessslightly larger than the outer periphery of the outermost track 22, isfastened in any suitable manner to any appropriate support or cabinet(not shown). The goal or finishing line is of course indicated either onplate 26, or disc 24, or both.

A member 21, hereinafter called the starter, is in the form of aninverted U, and has formed on the lower extremity of its legs, anintegral perforated wing portion as shown in Fig. 3, adapted to slideupon starter track 29, the latter being a more or less C-shaped rod asshown in Fig. 2. A guide rail or guard 28, fixed to base I, generallyfollows the contour of track 29, but converges gradually nearer to thecenter post for a purpose to be explained.

A heavy coil spring 30, surrounding track 29, is fixed at one end to astandard 3|, whose outstanding base fiange 32, is screwed to base I.Starter track 29, is likewise screwed at one end to said standard 3|,and to a similar standard at its other end. At its other end coil spring30 is attached to starter 21.

An arm 33, has a pivoted connection at M, to a ring 34, screwed to baseplate.

A helical spring 35, is mounted in the bore of a tubular member 36,rotatably supported in-ring 34. The lower end of spring 35, is fixed tobase I, the upper end being fastened to and bearing against an arm 31,tending to force said arm toward the center post. Arm 31, is integralwith tubular member 36, and carries an upwardly extending aligningfinger 38, as Well as a substan tially V-shaped member 39, these partsserving to align the racing objects.

A spring 40, secured at one end to any suitable portion of base I, andat its other end to an upstanding extension 42, of arm 33, tends to pullsaid arm in a clockwise direction (Fig. 2), about pivot M. A notch 36aformed in the outer periphery of member 36, however, acts as a stop,engaging the edge of extension 42, thus limiting the clockwise travel ofarm 33.

A trigger 43, pivotally mounted as at 44, on a bracket 46, fixed totrack 29, has an integral extension 45, to which is attached a coilspring 49, as illustrated, said spring being fastened also to stationaryguard 28. Spring 49, tends to pull extension 45, in a clockwisedirection, against a limiting stop 48a or shoulder formed on a laterallyextending member 48, also fixed to guide rail 28. An auxiliary, arcuate,stationary guide member for starter 21, is shown it 50.

The function of the various elements above referred to will now beexplained. Assuming that a race has been run, and the device is at rest,the various parts occupy the position illustrated in Fig. 2. Spring 30,is slack, starter 21, finds itself in its extreme right position, andarm 1 with its handle 9, is held slightly ahead of the starter whichbears against it. Trigger 43 is held in position to subsequently engagestarter 21', by spring 49, which pulls it in clockwise direction towarda stop on member 48, and trip member I2, having the triple duty oftripping the trigger, retarding the inward movement of the aligningassembly for a necessary interval, and of striking arm 33 to releaseextension 42 from notch in tubular member 36, bears against extension45. Its exact position obviously is dependent upon the position oflever 1. e

As illustrated, at this time arm I3 bears against one leg of theV-shaped element 39, maintaining arm 31 and finger 38, outwardly fromthe center of the device, and against the influence of spring 35, whichwould force said elements inwardly toward the center post. Lever 33, itsextension 42, seated in said notch of tubular member 36, stabilizes thealining assembly by virtue of spring 40. It is to be understood ofcourse, that the tension of spring 35, is such as to overcome theinfiuence of spring 40, so that in this initial set-up, member 39, bearsagainst arm I3, in a counterclockwise direction. Also obviously, theexact position of arm 33, is dependent upon the position of arm 1, whichwould be approximately in the Fig. 2 position.

Assuming further that a new race is now to take place, an operatorgrasps handle 9, and pulls it clockwise. By virtue of arm I4, engagingstarter 21, said starter is forced to ride clockwise on track 29, untilits leading wing is engaged by the hook on trigger 43, which will be inposition to engage it, and hold it firmly until released.

During the movement of starter 21, toward trigger 43, guard rail 28,continually tends to force bight of said starter inwardly toward thecenter post, the tendency of spring 30, being to force it against saidrail. Guard rail 50, is so designed as to retard such inward movement ofthe starter for such a length of time as is necessary for the aligningmechanism to function, thereby obviating any interference betweenstarter 21, .and braces 2|, at the time of aligning finger 38, comesinto play as will be explained.

Leftward movement of arm 1, and therefore starter 21, obviously revolveselements 6, Ill, I I, I2, and I3, about center post 4, in a clockwisedirection, permitting spring 49, to contract and pull extension 45,inwardly against said shoulder stop on member 48. During part of thismovement, arm I3, restrains the inward movement of the aligning assembly36, 31, 38, 39. Continued leftward movement of lever 1, causes therounded portion of trip I2, to perform this duty. At the same time thatstarter 21 is engaged by catch trigger 43, however, member I2, seversengagement with element 39, and contacts arm 33, releasing extension 42,from its confining notch and allowing aligning assembly 31, 38, 39, toswing inwardly under energy of spring 35. This is so because spring 35,is stronger than spring 49, and is so wound as to bring aligner 38, intoward center, when its inward movement is arrested as will appear.

Each track has a plurality of the braces 2I. In the embodimentillustrated and described herein, four such braces support each track.The racing objects 23, on each track, are fixed one each directly abovethe supporting flanges on said braces. Obviously therefore, each trackcarries four puppets, and has four braces, ninety degrees apart. Theduty of the finger 38, is to align the puppets in sets of three evenlyabout the course, since those on the inner track occupy positionsdifferent than those on the intermediate and outer tracks and viceversa, due to the finish of the preceding race. In its inward movementtherefore, finger 38, strikes three of said braces and carries them in aclockwise direction until the directly opposite three braces contact andare stopped by the starter 21, which has previously become engaged andis held fast by trigger 43. The travel of the starter, from its right toits left or caught position, follows the curvature of track 29, until itsnaps into the catch 43, spring 49, being thereby extended andconsequently holding said starter securely against the obvious tendencyof now distended spring 30, to pull it to the right. As noted aboveguard rail 28, gradually and gently brings the bight of starter 21,closer into the center until at the point where it is clutched by member43, the starter is practically in a vertical position so that three ofthe braces 2|, are engaged by its right leg, as said braces are made tobear against it by finger 38, as described. The latter action naturallydoes not take place until after the starter is clutched. The bight ofthe U-shaped starter is so shaped in order to obviate any interferencewith the braces 2|, in its gradual inward movement to starting positionunder the influence of guard rail 28.

It is now apparent that under this arrangement, the twelve racingobjects are lined up for the start of the race, in four sets of threeeach, ninety degrees apart. The operator may now move arm I, to theright, until member I2, is

approximate to extension 45, or he may allow it to remain in theposition it assumed when starter was clutched.

For explanatory purpose, the former is assumed. Consequently, member I2,upon disengaging arm 33, permits extension 42, to again seat itself inits notch by virtue of spring 39, and pivot 4|. Member 52, thereafter,riding along the inner leg of V-shaped member 39, begins to move thealigning finger 38, outwardly away from the now motionless braces 2!,which outward movement is completed by arm !3, as the cycle continues.The arrangement of parts at this time is obviously identical with theFig. 2

illustration with this exception: the starter 21, is clutched at 53, andspring 39, is extended to almost the length of track 29.

When the players have chosen their respective racers, handle 9, isflipped to the right, members l2 and H, trip clutch 43, starter 21, withgreat force moves suddenly to the right under the compression of spring30. The tracks begin to whirl at great speed about their ball-bearingcenters, simulating an actual race, with the racers passing andrepassing one another until finally all the tracks come to rest with oneor the other of the contenders at or nearest the goal.

Obviously as starter 21, travels with spring 36, to the right, it movesoutwardly along guard 28, to clear the succeeding set of braces afterhaving imparted great momentum to the tracks.

The uncertainty of the winner, due to the springs, ball-bearingmountings of the tracks, the impact of the starter etc., is consideredan important feature of my invention. The device is of simple design andmay be easily manufactured. The particular details of constructionillustrated, obviously admit of considerable modification, and I do notWish to be restricted to the precise embodiment shown in the drawings.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A race course game, comprising a base, a center post mounted thereon,ball bearing assemblies mounted on said center post in spaced verticalrelation, braces fixed to collars mounted on said bearing assemblies,circular'tracks fixed' to said races, racing objects in spaced relationmounted on said tracks, a starter member slidably mounted on an arcuatehorizontal track, a heavy coil spring secured to said starter at one endand to the base at its other end, a horizontal lever rotatably mountedon said center post for clockwise movement of a diametrically opposedstructure, said movement causing an aligning finger to move inwardly toalign the racing objects on predetermined spaced radial lines emanatingfrom the center post, a vertical extension on said horizontal lever toadvance said starter, and a clutch mechanism for maintaining saidstarter in a stationary position until its release is desired.

2. A race course game, comprising a base, a center post mounted thereon,ball bearing assemblies mounted on said center post in spaced verticalrelation, braces fixed to collars mounted on said bearing assemblies,circular tracks fixed to said braces, racing objects in spaced relationmounted on said tracks, means for aligning said objects in precisestarting formation, said means comprising a vertical aligning fingermounted on a spring actuated inwardly moving structure, pivotallymounted on said base, means for maintaining said objects in such alignedposition, comprising a starter, an arcuate horizontal track on whichsaid starter is slidably mounted, a spring fixed at its ends to thestarter and the base and surrounding said track, guide rails insuringproper positioning of said starter, a clutch mechanism mounted on saidbase, and a horizontal lever rotatably mounted about said. center post,an integral upwardly extending arm for engagement with said starter, sothat clockwise movement of the lever, causes clockwise travel of thestarter and expansion of said spring, until said clutch mechanismengages said starter, whereby the starter in conjunction with saidaligning finger, stabilizes and maintains said racing objects instarting formation until released.

3. A race course game, comprising a base, a center post mounted thereon,ball bearing assemblies mounted on said center post in spaced verticalrelation, braces fixed to collars mounted on said bearing assemblies,circular tracks supported by and fixed to said braces, said braceshaving racing objects in spaced relation mounted thereon, an operatinglever rotatably mounted on the center post, a spring actuated aligningstructure for positioning said objects in precise starting formation,said structure including a vertical aligning finger, whose inward andoutward movement is controlled by said operating lever, a starter and aclutch mechanism adapted to maintain said objects in such alignedposition, a heavy coil spring fixed at one end to the base and at theother to the starter, an upwardly extending arm integral with saidoperating lever for forcing said starter into engagement with theclutching mechanism, thereby distending said spring, and means forreleasing said starter and spring to impart a whirling motion to thetracks, said means comprising a tripping member fixed to a radiallyopposite arm integral with the operating lever, so that counterclockwisemovement of said lever effects first the withdrawal of the aligningfinger, and then the release of the starter, causing the tracks to whirlrapidly about the ball bearing as semblies by reason of the impactimparted to the braces by the starter due to the rapid compression ofsaid spring.

HENRIETTA EHRET.

